Never, Never Land easily rivals Psyence Fiction in both quality and star power (featuring as it does Jarvis Cocker, Brian Eno (both uncredited), Ian Brown (ex-Stone Roses), Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) and Robert del Naja (Massive Attack)), despite UNKLE's departure from their previous major label. This parting of the ways brought UNKLE (now chiefly James Lavelle and Richard File) to their new home at Global Underground, prompting a US release of Never, Never Land and this limited-edition box set, which includes a second CD, featuring (a few) unreleased tracks and (many) remixes, by the likes of Sasha, Hybrid and Anagram. One of the album's definite stand-out tracks, the single "Reign", features Ian Brown and Mani, both formerly of the Stone Roses, in their first collaboration since that band split. Now, no-one say that the new label doesn't know its marketing. --Peter Farnell
I bought it on the day of release (25th Oct '04) and was immediately impressed with the packaging and Futura artwork... but you can't judge a CD by its cover...
Having set the standard with Psyence Fiction, Lavelle falls well short here, having seemingly sold out to produce a more commercial, mainstream mix of largely forgettable, formulaic chill-out tunes.
Reign is undoubtedly the stand-out track on this album, and credit for that must go in no small part to Ian Brown, who co-wrote the song. But it must be said, the rest of the album is disappointing as most of the tracks simply pass you by.
Thankfully, the 2nd CD, of remixes, is rather better, which (along with Reign) saves this album from an even lower rating, but the absence of DJ Shadow from this latest Unkle offering is painfully evident: the creative variation and all-round energy of the last album is virtually non-existent.
It's one I'll probably listen to every now and again, but it's a shame Lavelle didn't have the courage (or the inspiration?!) to deliver another work of Psyence to match the artwork, and his own previous collaborative efforts.
